Cincinnati Rap

Cincinnati Rap

There's a conservatory called the Crohn,
There's a stay-dee-um that the Reds call home,
Wear your shorts and tee-shirts to a party in the park
and head for some jazz clubs when the night gets dark.

There's business men so serious
they eat lunch at their desk
they think the boss will see them
working harder than the rest

But the boss is at the Banker's Club
spending all the comp'ny's money
on pink champagne and caviar
for some short-skirted honey.

He leaves in his Cadillac
and cancels out the phone
then turns to the chippie
and say "do you want a bone?"

There's a man with his hand out
who stands at ninth and Elm
There's a mayor and a council
with no one at the helm

the beggar is arrested
cause he's some kind of jerk
the council just keeps gettin' paid
for not doing any work

The Laurel homes take back their ground
and push the pushers to the side
They've all moved to Roselawn,
a neighborhood with pride.

Downtown's a dusty wasteland
almost every night
the window vigilanties
keep the muggers out of sight

somehow the streets are safest
when they're empty block to block
once there was a better time
but you can't turn back the clock.

The tv and the radio
that's paid to give the news
keeps on showin black men
who murder for some shoes

Way out in the suburbs
where everyone is white
people lock their doors
and still can't sleep at night

And all the schools are cryin'
cause their levy won't get passed
and the mothers all buy olay oil
'cause they got a wrinkle on their ass.

The children are so lonely
that they don't know how to smile
and they think that future money
is what makes life worthwhile

The hard rock negativity
brings their spirit down
they're living in a circus
that doesn't have a clown

The fat man reaches fifty
and he hasn't saved a cent
he hungers for the great times
where his youth was spent.

when rock and roll was acted out
in the backseat of the cars
when GTO's and 409's
were as big as baseball stars

Freedom ain't as simple
as mixing black and white
or rich men helping poor men
or deciding not to fight

This song is all mixed up in knots
that no one can untie
and all the current knowledge says
it's uselessness to try

but one kind word to friend or stranger
when we should chance to meet
can make a day seem easier
and make life a little sweet.